Festival of Diversity — Long Table of Diversity Aachen

A City at One Table

The idea of the "Long Table" is simple and powerful: A city sits down at a common table. On the Katschhof — the historic square between the UNESCO World Heritage Aachen Cathedral and the City Hall — a continuous table has been set up since 2023, where Aachen residents of all origins, religions, and generations can take a seat. Brought dishes are shared, conversations arise, music accompanies the whole event. The festival is a format against loneliness and polarization — and a statement by the city for an open self-image.

More Than a Third with a Migration Background

Aachen, Germany's westernmost major city, has been a melting pot for decades: over a third of the city's population has a migration background. The Festival of Diversity takes this reality seriously and explicitly celebrates it. The municipal Committee for Equal Opportunities and Integration is responsible for its organization; the program and organization are developed jointly with dozens of initiatives, associations, and cultural creators.

Market of Diversity

The Market of Diversity is spread around the Long Table: stands from associations, religious communities, counseling centers, educational institutions, and cultural initiatives. Here, visitors can learn about the integration, inclusion, and educational work happening in Aachen — from language schools to intercultural sports clubs. It is not a sales market in the classic sense, but a networking space.

Diversity Award and "Integration Through Sport"

In 2026, the Diversity Award will be presented for the first time at the Long Table — a new award from the City of Aachen for special commitment in the area of equal opportunities and integration. Additionally, the "Integration Through Sport 2026" award will be presented. This gives the festival an official dimension of recognition and makes it an annual occasion to make the commitment of many Aachen citizens visible.

Aachen, the Three-Country Corner, and the Rhineland

Aachen is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the far west of Germany, on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. This location shapes not only the city's history (Carolingian city, Imperial city) but also its current self-image: Aachen is an euregional city where multilingualism is everyday life and diversity is the program. The Festival of Diversity is precisely in line with this tradition.